The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-08-06
THE GAINESVILLE MURDER
How the watkins Letter Came
to BE Published i'm the News.

On the 18th night of July last two
cstimablc young ladies were savagely
attacked in Gainesville--onc was so
horribly mutilated that she died,
while the other NAV live, MANNED and
SCARED, as tho victim of a midnight
marauders act. All the-pcople OF our
State and everywhere arc stunned be-
cause of this crime OF mailman or
drunken ficnd. The blood of Gena
Watkins and May Bostick demands
vengeance and all tho people are
watching for the assassin. Numerous
arrests lave been made and after
prompt investigation released.
Finally after well grounded suspi-
cion, n man was arrested in Hunt coun-
ty, and further inquiry into his guilt,
made it prudent aud necessary for the
officers TO transport him to Gainesville.
Day after day has been vigilantly
spent by the officers at the scene Of the
murder, investigating this mans guilt
and each day confirming their pur-
pose to hold him. lie has had the
same tests applied to him as was ap-
piled to the others, yet they w,re
promptly released, and the man refer
red to by Mr.. Watkins, has been, and
is promptly held. Why is he not re-
leased? Mr. Watkins certainly feels
that the officers have the guilty wretch,
or at least one convicted with the mur-
der of his child-and unquestionably
the officers agree. Watkins with lhe
devotion of n father, is watching every
movement and circumstance eiciting
the truth. lie feels that he has discov-
cred that thewretch was drunk not that
he was saloon man, but one of the
clement who buy and drink
the poisoning stuff, and do
foul deeds because Of its influence.
His indignation is against The poison
that generated the crime. If this pois-
on did generate the crime and he
has evidence that ii did, is not his
indignation just and natural ? What
father would withhold tho announce-
ment from the housetop that whisky
armed the demon to destroy his love-
ly daughter, il he 80 believed Mr.. w
knows Inc well by reputation
and character, and | know bis brother
and him by character, and both of
them enjoy good character. He was
passing through Dcnison the day be-
fore yesterday and called on me, and
in my absence wrote the letter and
article published in the News of yes
terday. On my return from Sherman
| got his letter and article. | took
them to the News Office and they
were examined by Mr.. Linn, the
editor and proprietor. The post
scrip, garbled statement Of which
appeared in the Gazetteer's dodg-
or, was read by him.
They were given Mr.. Linn
as matter of information as
the latest news OF the assassination, |
and in this view alone he had them
published If they had been intend
cd as campaign dodge" they would |
have been submitted TO the prohibi-
ton committee and sent TO The prohi-
bition press. Such was not the pur-
pose of their publication, and if the |
publication has accomplished such a
purpose it is because the over-sensi- |
tiveness of the liquor traffic has
made it so. Any paper not desiring
to suppress information of the char
acters given, would have readily pub
lished them. What sacredness is
there in whisky that should make a
frenzicd father refrain from q refer
ence to il as the indirect destroyer of
his child, or news paper seeking the
news refuse the publication of such
reference ? The sheriff of Cooke
county wires the Gazetteer that 1--WE
have no positive evidence against the
negro now in jail don't believe he
is guilty. Party arrested in the ter
ritory Yesterday positively not gull
ty." The sheriff is careful not to say
that the negro in Jail il positively not
guilty. lie dare not say that the cir
cumstantial evidence against the fel.
low in jailis not strong enough to
produce moral certainty of his guilt.
There cannot be positive evidence, be-
cause Gena is dead and Miss Bostick
was crazed by the blow before recog-
milton of the assassin could be had.
The sheriff says, he "don't believe he
is guilty" 1t is not what the sheriff
personally believes that constitutes
guilt. Docs the sheriff contradict
even indirectly what Mr.. Watkins says!
Since the sheriff sent his telegram, Mr..
Watkins sent the following to me :
&" The article left with you is correct"
This last dispatch was an answer TO
mine, asking him if the article and let
ter left at my house and published was
correct. The original of these have
been read by number of parties.
gave them to the anti-prohibitionists
for examination. They at first charged